New Studies Show Health Toll from Backup Generators for Data Centers

As data centers emerge in communities across the country, new studies warn of negative health implications for people living nearby. Air quality concerns stem from the use of diesel and methane gas to power backup generators for data centers. Key analyses have specifically looked at areas of concentrated data center development in Virginia. 

“The 10,500 generators attached to data centers in Virginia produce enough pollution to harm public health even if used rarely, according to a new analysis of emissions permits for The Washington Post. Operating them for less than an hour per week, on average, creates the same public health impact as five power plants the size of the large Possum Point gas-fired power station near Quantico, according to the analysis by Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Washington,” the Post article reports. “That’s enough to worsen lung and cardiovascular conditions for people in the region and cause at least three premature deaths each year, the analysis found, based on state air permits and reported emissions from the data center owners.”

Additional Research Supports Conclusions

The concerns in Virginia have garnered national attention. A separate study by researchers at the University of California at Riverside and the California Institute of Technology says that sufficient nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter (soot) are contained in diesel exhaust from data center generators in Virginia to trigger 14,000 episodes of asthma symptoms each year. 

Meanwhile in Tennessee and Mississippi, similar health concerns surround the 27 massive gas turbines installed to provide power to Elon Musk’s xAI Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. 

Communities Push Back

However, communities are calling out the injustice and pushing back against power-hungry companies. Environmental law groups Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) are representing the national and Mississippi branch NAACP in suing to stop the “unlawful operation of dozens of unpermitted methane gas turbines” producing power for the Colossus 2 data center. 

“A data center should not be a potential death sentence for a community’s health. By looking to evade clean air laws to operate dirty turbines that emit pollution and known carcinogens, these companies are following a shameful, familiar pattern: asking Black and frontline communities to bear the toxic brunt of ‘innovation,'” said Abre’ Conner, NAACP Director of Environmental and Climate Justice. “As we shared since xAI started operating in Memphis, our homes, churches, and playgrounds will not be sacrifice zones for Big Tech’s convenience. The NAACP stands firm that true progress cannot be built by ignoring community health and our environment. Our right to clean air is not up for negotiation, especially when companies prove expediency, not people, is their priority.” 

The plaintiffs have sought a preliminary injunction shutting down the unpermitted gas turbines, noting that they can emit a “staggering amount of toxic air pollution each year” including 2,507 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides, 236 tons of fine particulates (soot), 837 tons of carbon monoxide, and 25 tons of formaldehyde. 

Local and regional air pollution and health impacts add to a growing list of data center impacts.  Higher electric bills, extensive cooling water needs, and climate impacts have already been identified as major concerns regarding proposed data centers in North Carolina. 

What Can We Do?

North Carolinians can challenge corrupt data center interests by voting for pro-environment candidates who will fight for communities’ rights. Look up your representatives’ environmental scores here!